“Make sure you hold him. I want the chief to run a full check on the guy.” In case he had been sent after Nicole, with his inebriated state an intentional diversion.
“What’s going on?” Burnett asked.
“No time to explain now. Where are the women?” Sam asked, wanting to get to Nicole.
Burnett tipped his head toward the ambulance. “Being checked out just to make sure they’re fine.”
“Thanks again.” Sam shook Burnett’s hand and headed to see Nicole for himself.
Both Nicole and Macy had been released by the paramedics, and as Sam approached, they were being reminded that should they feel anything unusual, they should head to the hospital immediately.
Nicole signed the form the paramedic held out for her, then turned, and her eyes connected with his. Shaking, he caught her in his arms before she could collapse.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” she murmured.
His heart squeezed tight at the admission, and he held on tight. Turning to Macy, he extended his other arm for her and helped both women to his truck, grateful tonight hadn’t turned out so much worse. And with the way his brain had spun out alternative scenarios, he decided he wasn’t letting Nicole out of his sight for a good, long while.
An hour later, Nicole had showered and now, wrapped in her favorite robe, she sipped a cup of tea and cuddled next to Sam on the sofa in her family room. After dropping Macy at home, Sam called Mike, at which point Nicole realized he believed the drunk driver behind her might have been sent to intimidate her into running back to Manhattan and Tyler for protection.
She had to admit that as the driver hovered on her tail, she’d thought the same thing. But she didn’t like Sam being uptight and stressed out, and he was both.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, obviously worrying about her the same way she was about him.
“Sore,” she admitted.
His arm around her tightened and she laid her head against his chest, inhaling his masculine scent that was both comforting and arousing at the same time.
“It’ll be worse tomorrow,” he said, his voice thick as his thumb rubbed comforting circles on her arm.
“I know. The paramedic warned me. I’ll take some ibuprofen and I’ll be fine.” She wasn’t looking forward to it, but she’d survive.
He groaned. “Let’s go upstairs. You’ll be more comfortable in bed.”
She narrowed her gaze and shifted so he could move out from under her. She pressed her hands against the sofa, prepared to stand, when he lifted her into his arms. “Sam, this is becoming a habit.” One she already knew she liked and wanted to get used to.
He met her gaze, his eyes as serious as she’d ever seen them. “I need to take care of you tonight.”
She leaned her head against his chest and sighed. Earlier, when she’d turned from the paramedic only to catch sight of Sam, her knees almost buckled at the sight of him, strong and solid, there for her in her moment of need.
He was her safe haven.
And so much more.
He took care of her. He looked out for her. He understood her. He made her feel everything.
“You make it too easy to love you,” she murmured, deciding it was time to let out what was already in her heart. She’d grown up used to hiding her emotions and feelings, and she hated how she felt when doing it.
He stiffened but continued his climb up the stairs. “I don’t—”
“Shh.” She looked up and placed her finger over his firm lips, rubbing her fingertip back and forth over his mouth.
His hazel eyes dilated at her touch.
He couldn’t say it back, and it hurt. So did the fact that he didn’t want to hear it either.
“Sam, just because I needed to say it doesn’t mean you need to repeat it. And just because I feel it doesn’t mean you have to.” Although she sensed he did.
But he was running from his feelings because of his past, his fear of being hurt again. Though she had to accept that he might never let himself get beyond those fears, tonight’s accident reminded her that life was short. And so she was willing to fight for both of them and hope she could bring him around.